Prevention

Head and Neck Cancer Prevention

The most common risk factors for head and neck cancers are alcohol and tobacco use. It is estimated that 75 percent of head and neck cancers are alcohol or tobacco related. However, recently there has been an increased amount of head and neck cancers related to HPV (human papillomavirus).

Facts About Head and Neck Cancer

• With early detection, head and neck cancers are highly curable • More than 30,000 new cases of mouth and throat cancer are diagnosed annually • Head and neck cancers are more common in men • Preventative risk factors that increase a person’s likelihood of getting oral cancer include smoking or chewing tobacco, excessive use of alcohol and poor dental hygiene